Windmill Hill Asset Management Ltd Reduces Stock Holdings in Moody’s Co. (NYSE:MCO)

Windmill Hill Asset Management Ltd cut its position in Moody’s Co. (NYSE:MCO) by 19.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,596 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 1,776 shares during the quarter. Moody’s comprises approximately 3.6% of Windmill Hill Asset Management Ltd’s holdings, making the stock its 5th biggest position. Windmill Hill Asset Management Ltd’s holdings in Moody’s were worth $3,596,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. M&T Bank Corp increased its holdings in shares of Moody’s by 11.2% during the 3rd quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 62,913 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $29,858,000 after acquiring an additional 6,340 shares during the last quarter. Fiduciary Alliance LLC boosted its position in Moody’s by 32.5% during the fourth quarter. Fiduciary Alliance LLC now owns 14,316 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $6,777,000 after purchasing an additional 3,510 shares during the period. Burney Co. acquired a new position in shares of Moody’s in the fourth quarter valued at $6,775,000. Mizuho Securities USA LLC raised its position in shares of Moody’s by 567.2% in the third quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC now owns 80,781 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $38,338,000 after purchasing an additional 68,674 shares during the period. Finally, Jennison Associates LLC lifted its stake in shares of Moody’s by 22.6% during the 3rd quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 2,333,263 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $1,107,344,000 after buying an additional 430,878 shares during the last quarter. 92.11% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Moody’s news, CEO Robert Fauber sold 281 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $473.62, for a total transaction of $133,087.22. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 61,894 shares in the company, valued at approximately $29,314,236.28. This trade represents a 0.45 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In the last three months, insiders have sold 1,124 shares of company stock valued at $540,051. 0.07% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Moody’s Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:MCO opened at $502.46 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $91.05 billion, a PE ratio of 45.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 1.31. Moody’s Co. has a 52 week low of $360.05 and a 52 week high of $505.77. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $482.89 and its 200-day moving average is $475.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69, a quick ratio of 1.67 and a current ratio of 1.67.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of Moody’s from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 24th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Moody’s from $462.00 to $481.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on Moody’s from $454.00 to $459.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on Moody’s from $490.00 to $512.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Finally, Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of Moody’s in a research report on Friday, December 20th. They set a “buy” rating and a $565.00 price objective for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Moody’s has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $507.36.

About Moody’s

Moody’s Corporation operates as an integrated risk assessment firm worldwide. It operates in two segments, Moody’s Analytics and Moody’s Investors Services. The Moody’s Analytics segment develops a range of products and services that support the risk management activities of institutional participants in financial markets.